Schenectady, N.Y. (Sept. 27, 1999) – The College Park neighborhood will be the setting for a block party celebration today as more than 100 neighbors, Union students and staff, as well as a host construction workers celebrate the Union-Schenectady Initiative, the College's community revitalization effort.
The party, organized by Union staff and members of the College Park Neighborhood Association, kicks off on Huron St. at 4 p.m. and runs until 7 p.m. The event features a cookout, disc jockey and games for neighborhood children. Union President Roger Hull, Schenectady Mayor Albert Jurczynski and College Park Neighborhood Association President Judy Goberman will provide brief remarks at 5 p.m.
“What better way to celebrate the success of the Initiative than a block party?” said Union College Director of Community Outreach Gretchel Tyson. “Like the project itself, the event highlights the strong partnership between the Union and the College Park neighbors. It's also a great opportunity for residents to get to know the students who now live in the area. We've also invited members of the construction crews who, thanks to their hard work, kept the project on schedule.”
About 100 Union students moved into 13 renovated houses along Seward Place in August. Following completion of an additional 13 houses by January, a total of 161 students will live in the College Park neighborhood. Also slated for completion in January are the Union satellite security office on Seward Place and the College Park Community Outreach Center on Park Place, in the former Alps Grill building.
The Union Schenectady Initiative, announced in October 1998, is the College's $10 million neighborhood revitalization effort targeting the College Park neighborhood, the area from Union St. to Nott St. and from Seward Place to Erie Blvd. Developed to increase the College's student, faculty and staff housing offerings and as a mechanism to encourage homeownership in the area, the program includes full tuition scholarships to homeowners in the neighborhood and home mortgage programs from the College and Trustco Bank.